Bexley celebrated National Care Leavers Week last week (28 October to 3 November) with a range of activities aimed at supporting care-experienced young people as they transition to adulthood. This year's theme, "All of Us, We are One," highlighted unity, inclusivity and our collective responsibility to offer care and support to young people leaving care.
The week of activities launched on Monday (28 October) with an opening event at the Civic Offices. The event featured inspiring words from our young adults leaving our care, followed by a well-being afternoon hosted by the Leaving Care Service in partnership with numerous local charities from across the borough. These activities provided a platform for our young people and young adults leaving care to share their experiences, connect with their community, and access valuable support.
Throughout the week, events continued with various opportunities for engagement and connection:
- Tuesday: A virtual Quiz Night on Microsoft Teams, where young adults leaving our care, their personal advisors and managers enjoyed a fun and friendly competition.
- Wednesday: A Virtual Drop-in session with representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Bexley Housing team, offering young people valuable advice and guidance in their transition to independence.
- Thursday: A friendly football match at Goals, Bexleyheath, provided a fun and active way to conclude the week’s events.
Cllr Chris Taylor, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
National Care Leavers Week is an opportunity to celebrate our young people’s resilience and achievements while reinforcing our commitment to supporting them as they enter adulthood. We are proud to work alongside our community partners to ensure that our young people leaving our care feel included and supported every step of the way."
Stephen Kitchman, Director of Children's Services, said:
Supporting our young people as they transition from care into adulthood is one of the most important responsibilities we hold. National Care Leavers Week gives us a chance to focus on this transition, to listen, and to ensure that our services are truly responsive to their needs. Our activities this week underscored our commitment to standing beside our care leavers every step of the way as they build their futures."
In addition to the activities, Bexley’s officers and young people raised funds for the Positive Journeys Seniors group. Composed of young people in our care, this group will use the funds to deliver much-needed support projects during Christmas.
For those interested in making a lasting impact in a young person’s life, Bexley is always looking for compassionate individuals to join its team of foster carers.